Hulk: Why I said 'No' to Blues

Cape Town - Brazil star Hulk has opened up on why he snubbed the chance to move to Stamford Bridge or the Santiago Bernabeu.

Hulk feared being left on the bench at Chelsea according to Metro.

The 28-year-old Zenit St Petersburg attacking forward joined the Russian club three seasons ago in a move which raised more than a few eyebrows.

Between 2008 and 2012, Hulk was twice named the league's best player in Portugal.  

Why didn't the Brazilian join one of Europe's elite clubs? Hulk told Globo Esporte: "I know some clubs bring a lot of attention and hype on the ones playing for them, but my priority is being happy, and being happy means getting to be regularly on the pitch for me.

"Joining Chelsea or Real Madrid would make no sense for me, since I’d risk to be benched a lot there, and I know there will always be clubs interested in signing me."

Hulk has been capped over 40 times for Brazil and